Man  n.a/5  *  . 

'/Vorv  iam  S-e 

Manual  for  Missionaries 
and  Missionary  Candidates 


Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society 

METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 


FOREWORD 

Mrs.  Willliam  Fraser  McDowell 


TO  CANDIDATES 

The  fact  that  you  are  a  candidate  for  missionary  service 
presupposes  two  things:  first,  that  you  have  heard  God’s  call 
to  this  work,  and  are  willing  to  go;  second,  that  you  have  given 
yourself  thorough  preparation,  and  are  fitted  to  go. 

What  your  life  and  work  will  mean  to  the  church  and  to  the 
Kingdom  of  God  no  one  of  us  can  tell.  You  may  be  required 
to  carry  great  and  heavy  responsibilities,  or  your  whole  life  may 
be  spent  with  tasks  wliich  will  seem  to  be  trivial  and  whose 
results  will  appear  to  be  small.  No  success  can  come  to  you  in 
which  we  who  are  serving  at  home  shall  not  rejoice.  No  trial 
or  difiiculty  can  meet  you  which  we  shall  not  share  with  you. 
You  are  to  be  our  missionaries,  and  we  shall  be  working  together. 
Best  of  all,  we  shall  be  working  together  with  Him. 

On  the  white  stone  which  marks  the  grave  of  Isabella  Tho- 
burn  in  India  one  may  read  these  words: 

“Swift  to  hear,  prompt  to  obey, 
dihgent  to  serve,  faithful  unto 
death;  she  rests  from  her  labors 
and  her  works  do  follow  her.” 

We  can  wish  for  nothing  liigher  or  greater  than  that  you  may  be 
swift  to  hear  the  voice  of  the  Master,  prompt  to  obey  the  com¬ 
mands  of  the  Master,  diligent  in  His  service,  and  faithful  to 
Him  to  the  end. 


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TO  MISSIONARIES 


This  manual  is  not  a  set  of  arbitrary  rules  prepared  with  a 
view  to  hedge  about  the  life  of  the  missionary  with  restrictions. 
It  has  grown  out  of  the  experience  of  nearly  four  hundred 
missionaries  at  work  in  many  lands  through  a  half  century  of 
time.  Because  this  accumulated  wisdom  is  sure  to  be  more 
trustworthy  in  a  crisis  than  the  judgment  of  any  one  person, 
this  book  is  given  you  for  use  as  a  protection,  a  guide  and  a  help 
toward  that  perfect  service  which  you  on  the  field  and  we  at 
home  desire  to  render  to  our  Master.  -  We  ask  you  to  study  its 
contents  and  to  follow  its  precepts. 

An  educated  Hindu  looked  into  the  face  of  a  missionary  who 
had  worked  for  many  years  in  India,  and  asked  him  this  ques¬ 
tion:  “Do  you  know  whj"  you  have  not  succeeded  in  making  my 
people  believe  in  your  religion?  It  is  because  you  are  not  like 
your  Jesus.” 

You  —  our  missionaries  —  are  in  many  great  empires  to-day 
to  show  in  your  lives  to  many  people  who  have  no  other  way  of 
finding  it  out,  what  Jesus  is  like.  You  are  His  living  epistles  to 
be  known  and  read  by  all  those  among  whom  you  live  and  whom 
you  serve.  Your  supreme  obligation  to  your  people  is  to  reveal 
to  them  Jesus. 

“And  /,  if  1  be  hfted  up  .  .  .,  will  draw  all  men  unto  me.” 
That  is  His  promise  and  that  is  His  condition.  We  must  lift 
Him  up  and  show  Him  as  He  is  if  we  are  to  draw  people  to  Him. 


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MANUAL 


A.  THE  WOMAN’S  FOREIGN  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY 
OF  TEE  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

I.  Record  of  the  Beginnings. 

1.  The  Pioneers. 

On  April  fifth,  1819,  the  Missionary  and  Bible  Society  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  now  named  the  Board  of  Foreign 
Missions,  was  organized  in  New  York.  On  July  fifth,  1819,  the 
Female  Missionary  Society  of  New  York,  auxiliary  to  the  Mis¬ 
sionary  and  Bible  Society,  was  organized;  this  Society  existed 
until  1861,  contributing  over  twenty  thousand  dollars  to  the 
missionary  treasury.  Among  its  chief  interests  was  the  work  of 
Mrs.  Ann  Wilkins  in  Africa,  from  1836  to  1856.  Similar  auxil¬ 
iary  societies  among  women  and  among  young  people  were  formed 
at  an  early  date  in  Baltimore,  Boston,  Philadelphia,  Troy, 
Weedsport,  New  York  and  elsewhere. 

The  Female  Alissionary  Society  of  Baltimore  developed 
special  interest  in  China,  and  in  April,  1848,  The  Ladies’  China 
Missionary  Society  in  Baltimore  was  organized.  This  Society 
in  1858  founded  educational  work  for  girls  in  Foochow,  which  in 
1871  was  committed  to  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society. 

In  1860  the  Woman’s  Union  Missionary  Society  for  Heathen 
Lands  (undenominational)  was  organized  and,  until  1869,  in¬ 
cluded  many  women  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

2.  The  Society. 

1869; — March  23d,  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  organized,  in  Tremont 
Street  Church,  Boston,  “to  send  female  missionaries  to 
women  in  the  foreign  mission  fields”  of  the  Church. 
Nov.  3d,  Miss  Isabella  Thoburn  and  Miss  Clara  A. 
Swain,  M.D.,  sailed  for  India,  under  the  Society’s  ap¬ 
pointment. 


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June,  Heathen  Woman's  Friend  (since  1895  Womans 
Missionary  Friend),  established. 

1870; — Six  Branches  organized,  New  England,  New  York,  Phila¬ 
delphia,  Northwestern,  Western,  Cincinnati,  in  accord¬ 
ance  with  a  new  constitution  adopted  in  December, 
1869. 

April  20th,  First  meeting  of  the  Executive  Committee,  at 
the  home  of  Mrs.  Thomas  Rich,  Boston. 

April  21st,  First  anniversary  of  the  Society,  held  in 
Tremont  Street  Church,  Boston. 

1871 : — Baltimore  Branch  organized. 

1872; — The  Society  endorsed  by  the  General  Conference  as  a 
“recognized  agency  of  the  Church.” 

1883; — Western  Branch  divided  into  Des  Moines,  Topeka,  and 
Minneapolis  Branches. 

1884; — Incorporation  of  the  Society,  under  the  laws  of  the  State 
of  New  York.  Charter  amended  in  1906  and  1908. 

1889 ; — Pacific  Branch  organized. 

1892; — Columbia  River  Branch  organized. 

II.  The  Field. 

The  Society’s  field  includes  Africa,  Bulgaria,  Burma,  China, 
Italy,  India,  Japan,  Korea,  Malaysia,  Mexico,  Philippine  Islands 
and  South  America.  Nearly  four  hundred  missionaries,  aided 
by  over  three  thousand  native  helpers  and  Bible  women,  are 
engaged  in  its  evangelistic,  medical  and  educational  ministry  to 
the  women  and  cliildren  of  non-Christian  lands.  The  Society 
maintains  ninety-two  boarding  schools,  over  seven  hundred  and 
fifty  day  schools,  ten  kindergartens,  sixteen  industrial  schools, 
twenty  orphanages,  eight  homes  for  homeless  women,  eighteen 
hospitals  and  many  dispensaries. 

III.  Relation  of  the  Society  to  the  Church  and  the  Board  of  Foreign 

Missions 

The  Discipline  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  1912, 
defines  the  Society  as  follows; 

P.  388.  For  the  more  successful  prosecution  of  the  Mission¬ 
ary  work  of  the  Church  among  women  in  foreign  lands,  there 


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shall  be  an  organization  known  as  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Mission¬ 
ary  Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  to  be  governed 
and  regulated  by  its  Constitution,  which  may  be  altered  or 
amended  by  the  General  Conference  as  the  necessities  of  the 
work  may  require. 

Sec.  1.  This  Society  shall  work  in  harmony  with,  and 
under  the  supervision  of,  the  authorities  of  the  Board  of  Foreign 
Missions  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The  appointment, 
recall,  and  remuneration  of  Missionaries,  and  the  designation  of 
their  fields  of  labor,  shall  be  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  Board 
of  Managers  of  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church;  and  the  annual  appropriations  to  Mission 
fields  shall  be  submitted  for  revision  and  approval  to  the  General 
Committee  of  Foreign  Missions, 

Sec.  2.  All  Missionaries  sent  out  by  this  Society  shall  be 
under  the  direction  of  the  particular  Conferences  or  Missions  of 
the  Church  in  which  they  may  be  severally  employed.  They 
shall  be  annually  appointed  by  the  President  of  the  Conference 
or  Mission,  and  shall  be  subject  to  the  same  rules  of  removal 
that  govern  the  other  Missionaries. 

Sec.  3.  All  the  work  of  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary 
Society  in  foreign  lands  shall  be  under  the  direction  of  the  Con¬ 
ferences  or  Missions  and  their  Committees  in  exactly  the  same 
manner  as  the  work  of  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  the  Superintendent  or  District 
Superintendent  having  the  same  relation  to  the  work  and  the 
person  in  charge  of  it  that  he  would  have  were  it  a  work  in  the 
charge  of  any  Member  of  the  Conference  or  Mission. 

P.  389.  Sec.  1.  The  funds  of  the  Society  shall  not  be  raised 
by  collections  or  subscriptions  taken  during  any  of  our  regular 
Church  services,  nor  in  any  Sunday  School,  but  shall  be  raised 
by  such  methods  as  the  Constitution  of  the  Society  shall  provide, 
none  of  which  shall  interfere  with  the  contributions  of  our  people 
and  Sunday  Schools  for  the  treasury  of  the  Board  of  Foreign 
Missions  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church;  and  the  amount 
so  collected  shall  be  reported  by  the  Pastor  to  the  Annual  Con¬ 
ference,  and  be  entered  in  a  column  among  the  Benevolent  Col¬ 
lections  in  the  Annual  and  General  Minutes. 


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Sec.  2.  The  provisions  of  Section  1  of  this  paragraph  shall 
not  be  so  interpreted  as  to  prevent  the  women  from  taking  col¬ 
lections  in  meetings  convened  in  the  interests  of  their  Societies; 
nor  from  securing  memberships  and  life  memberships  in  audiences 
where  their  work  is  represented;  nor  from  holdmg  festivals  or 
arranging  lectures  in  the  interests  of  their  work. 

IV.  The  Constitution  and  By-Latvs  of  the  Society. 

Note:  For  amendments  adopted  since  1912,  it  is  important 
to  consult  the  latest  Annual  Report  of  the  Society. 

B.  THE  MISSIONARY  CANDIDATE. 

I.  Qualifications: 

(Condensed  from  the  report  of  the  Board  of  Missionary 
Studies,  1913.) 

1.  Physical. 

No  one  should  be  sent  out  as  a  missionarj'  who  is  not  certified 
by  a  competent  medical  examiner  to  be  of  good  health  and  sound 
constitution.  Each  missionary  should  also  be  well  grounded  in 
the  general  rules  of  health  and  in  the  special  application  of  them 
in  the  region  of  her  future  labor.  It  has  become  clear,  that 
in  a  true  moral  order,  physical  health  has  a  place  of  vital  impor¬ 
tance.  The  promotion  of  this  health  requires  obedience  to  the 
laws  of  life  and  systematic  exercise  for  the  purpose  of  maintain¬ 
ing  all  the  powers  of  our  human  nature  at  their  best. 

2.  Educational. 

It  has  long  been  assumed  that  both  the  general  and  profes¬ 
sional  training  of  missionaries  should  be  of  a  high  quality.  In 
addition  to  tins  training  a  new  emphasis  is  now  being  placed  on 
“Special  Missionary  Preparation.”  Specifically,  this  subject 
contains  three  elements:  (1)  Knowledge  of  Christianity,  (2) 
Knowledge  of  the  Field,  and  (3)  Mastery  of  the  Instruments  of 
Work. 

(1)  Knowledge  of  Christianity.  It  is  a  fact  that  the  majority 
of  women  have  been  sent  out  to  teach  Christianity  without  hav¬ 
ing  made  a  special  study  of  it  for  themselves  under  competent 
guidance.  No  missionary  should  go  out  who  has  not  had  sound 


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and  real  instruction  in  the  Bible  and  in  the  exposition  and  de¬ 
fense  of  Christian  truth. 

(2)  Knowledge  of  the  Field,  (a)  The  young  missionary 
should  have  instruction  in  the  liistory,  methods  and  principle 
of  missionary  work  and  in  those  facts  which  come  under  the 
general  head  of  Sociology. 

(b)  The  student  should  not  only  have  some  idea  of  the 
general  History  of  Religions,  but  she  ought  to  be  taught  the 
nature,  doctrines,  morals  and  practices  of  the  special  religion  or 
religions  in  that  region  to  which  she  is  appointed.  All  this  she 
will  learn  better  and  more  quickly  on  the  field  if  she  has  had  good 
preparatory  teaching  under  competent  teachers  at  home.  This 
teaching  should  also  include  the  liistory,  character  and  customs 
of  the  people  among  whom  she  will  work. 

(3)  Mastery  of  the  Instruments.  These  are  the  language 
of  her  field  and  the  art  of  education,  (a)  It  may  not  be  wise 
to  begin  the  study  of  the  language  at  home,  but  it  is  safe  to  say 
that  every  candidate  should  have  a  course  in  Phonetics,  (b) 
There  is  no  doubt  that  some  training  should  be  had  in  Peda¬ 
gogy  and  Psychology,  given  with  a  special  view  to  the  uses  of 
the  missionary.  Practically  every  missionary  is  going  to  be  a 
teacher  of  some  kind,  and  the  power  of  missionary  educational 
work  depends  largely  upon  this  kind  of  preparation. 

3.  Religious. 

The  candidate  must  be  consciously  possessed  and  dominated 
by  a  direct  and  personal  faith  in  Jesus  Christ  as  her  own  Saviour 
and  Lord.  She  must  have  the  sense  of  communion  with  God. 
As  the  missionary  is  to  represent  the  Christian  life  in  all  its  acts 
and  qualities  she  must  be  a  woman  to  whom  prayer  is  the  breath 
of  life.  And  a  woman  of  prayer  is  a  woman  whose  mind  is  filled 
constantly  witli  the  Scriptures. 

4.  Personal  Character  and  Temper. 

There  are  three  essentials  of  Christian  character  which,  while 
necessary  for  all,  must  be  fully  developed  in  the  missionary. 
These  are  self-control,  humility  and  zeal.  One  of  the  best  lists 
of  the  necessary  phases  of  temper  is  —  earnestness,  clearness 
and  definiteness  (in  thought  and  statement),  tact  and  concilia- 


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tion,  courtesy,  gentleness  and  patience,  a  holy  walk  and  conversa¬ 
tion,  spiritual  equipment. 

II.  Requirements. 

Each  person  who  offers  herself  as  a  missionary  candidate 
shall:  (a)  declare  her  belief  that  (1)  she  is  divinely  called  to  the 
work  of  a  foreign  missionary;  (2)  that  she  is  actuated  only  by  a 
desire  to  work  in  accordance  with  the  will  of  God;  and  (3)  that 
she  intends  to  make  foreign  missionary  work  the  service  of  her 
effective  years. 

(6)  The  preferred  age  for  a  candidate  shall  be  twenty-five 
to  tliirty  years. 

(c)  The  candidate  shall  fill  out  required  application  blanks. 
By-Law  VIII,  a,  b,  c. 

III.  A'p'plication. 

A  young  woman  who  purposes  to  become  a  missionary  of  the 
Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society  should  communicate  with 
the  Corresponding  Seeretary  of  the  Branch  in  which  she  resides. 
The  Branches  are  described  in  the  Constitution,  Article  VI 
(Page  6).  The  address  of  the  Corresponding  Secretary  of  each 
Branch  may  be  found  in  the  latest  Annual  Report  of  the  Society, 
or  obtained  at  the  General  Office,  150  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York. 

The  Branch  Candidate  Committee,  of  which  the  Branch 
Corresponding  Secretary  is  Chairman,  shall  investigate  the  case 
of  any  candidate  within  the  limits  of  the  Branch,  and  shall 
supply  such  candidates  with  blanks  for  health  certificate  and 
constitutional  questions,  to  be  filled  out  and  answered  by  her; 
and,  when  practicable,  a  personal  interview  shall  be  had  with  the 
candidate  by  two  or  more  of  the  Committee  before  her  papers 
are  forwarded  to  the  Foreign  Department.  The  Corresponding 
Seeretary  of  the  Branch  presenting  missionary  candidates  shall 
have  a  personal  interview  with  each  candidate  before  her  final 
appointment  to  a  foreign  field.  Art.  VI,  4. 

The  application  blanks  supplied  by  the  Branch  Correspond¬ 
ing  Secretary  are  in  three  forms.  Forms  1  and  2  should  be  filled 
out  by  the  applicant.  Form  3  by  a  competent  physician.  Forms 
2  and  3  relate  to  the  candidate’s  health.  Form  1  is  as  follows: 


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1.  Full  name. 

2.  Residence. 

3.  Place  and  date  of  birth. 

4.  Have  you  an  experimental  knowledge  of  salvation 
through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.^  Answer  tliis  question  somewhat 
in  detail. 

5.  Are  you  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
and  a  regular  attendant  upon  its  services,  and  are  you  fully  in 
accord  with  its  doctrines  as  set  forth  in  Part  1,  Division  1,  of 
the  Discipline? 

6.  Have  you  had  special  systematic  study  of  the  Scriptures? 

7.  Have  you  an  earnest  desire  to  win  souls  to  Christ,  and 
how  has  this  desire  been  manifest  in  the  past? 

8.  Do  you  trust  that  you  are  inwardly  moved  by  the  Holy 
Ghost  to  take  upon  you  the  work  of  a  foreign  missionary? 

9.  How  long  have  you  entertained  tliis  conviction? 

10.  Do  you  desire  and  intend  to  make  tliis  your  life  work, 
and  are  you  wiUing  to  labor  in  any  field? 

11.  To  what  extent  are  you  acquainted  with  the  work  of  the 
Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society? 

12.  Have  you  any  views  which  would  jirevent  your  cordial 
co-operation  with  the  missionaries  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church? 

13.  Would  you  be  willing  to  give  up  any  personal  habit 
which  might  grieve  your  fellow  missionaries  and  lessen  the  influ¬ 
ence  of  your  example  over  the  native  Christians  ? 

14.  Are  you  a  total  abstainer  from  aU  forms  of  alcoholic 
beverages  and  from  opium,  cocaine,  and  other  narcotics? 

15.  What  is  the  condition  of  your  health?  (Answer  ques¬ 
tion  in  Form  2  and  procure  testimony  of  a  competent  jihysician 
according  to  Form  3.) 

16.  Outhne  the  character  and  extent  of  your  education. 
Name  the  institutions  in  wliich  you  were  educated,  the  course  or 
courses  pursued,  and  date  of  graduation. 

17.  What  languages  other  than  English  have  you  studied, 
and  with  what  facility  do  you  acquire  them? 

18.  Have  you  a  knowledge  of  music,  vocal  or  instrumental? 

19.  Have  you  had  business  training,  and  in  what  line? 


9 


20.  What  positions  have  you  held  in  business  or  professional 
life? 

21.  Executive  ability.  Provide  testimonials  relative  to 
your  success  in  teaching  and  in  the  management  of  financial 
matters. 

22.  Have  you  been  married?  If  so,  is  your  husband  living? 

23.  Are  you  engaged  to  be  married? 

24.  Are  you  liable  for  debt? 

25.  Is  any  one  dependent  upon  you  for  support? 

26.  Give  names  and  addresses  of  at  least  ten  persons,  includ¬ 
ing  pastors,  instructors,  and  others  who  are  able  to  give  informa¬ 
tion  relative  to  your  Christian  usefulness,  your  adaptability  to 
people  and  circumstances,  and  your  general  fitness  for  the  work. 

27.  A  photograph  should  accompany  your  application. 

28.  Have  you  read  the  rules  applying  to  missionaries,  and 
do  you  promise  to  abide  by  them? 

Signed . 

Date . 

On  the  approval  of  the  Branch  Candidate  Committee,  the 
Branch  Corresponding  Secretary  presents  the  candidate’s  name 
with  full  information  and  testimonials  to  the  Foreign  Depart¬ 
ment,  whose  duty  it  is  “to  examine  and  report  to  the  General 
Executive  Committee  upon  all  the  testimonials  of  missionary 
candidates  that  are  presented  by  the  various  Branches.”  The 
General  Executive  Committee  acts  upon  these  reports,  “em¬ 
ploying  new  missionaries  and  designating  their  fields  of  labor,  ’  ’ 
subject  to  the  approval  of  the  Board  of  Managers  of  the  Board 
of  Foreign  Missions.  (Constitution,  Art.  V,  Sec.  2,  Art.  IX, 
Sec.  1,  By-Law  III,  d). 

IV.  Missionaries  from  Other  Boards  and  from  the  Foreign  Field. 

Any  missionary  of  another  Board  on  the  field  seeking  admis¬ 
sion  to  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society  must  present 
suitable  recommendations  from  her  Board;  serve  at  least  three 
years  in  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  and  be  recom¬ 
mended  by  the  Conferenee  where  she  has  labored,  presenting 
such  credentials  as  are  required  of  other  candidates  before  she 


10 


is  eligible  to  membership  in  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary 
Society. 

The  acceptance  as  missionaries  of  assistants,  or  native  work¬ 
ers  shall  be  in  the  hands  of  the  Foreign  Department,  which,  in 
reaching  a  conclusion,  sliall  take  into  consideration  (1)  the  testi¬ 
monials  required  in  the  regulations  to  candidates,  including  health 
certificates;  (2)  a  certificate  showing  three  years  of  service  under 
the  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society;  (3)  the  recommenda¬ 
tion  of  the  Bishop  in  charge  of  the  Conference.  By-Law  VIII, 
e,  f. 

V.  Self-Supporting  Missionaries. 

Self-supporting  missionaries  who  are  regularly  accepted  by 
the  Foreign  Department  have  the  same  standing  as  those  who 
receive  salary,  and  shall  be  amenable  to  the  laws  governing  the 
same. 

VI.  Contract  Teachers. 

The  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society  may  employ  Con¬ 
tract  Teachers  for  English  work,  who  make  no  avowal  of  life 
purpose  in  service,  but  contract  for  a  three  years’  term  under  the 
following  provisions:  First,  the  employment  of  such  teachers 
shall  be  under  the  supervision  of  the  Foreign  Department  of 
the  W.  F.  M.  S.  which  shall  accept  and  appoint  them  only  after 
the  usual  missionary  candidate  testimonials  and  health  certificate 
have  been  presented  and  approved. 

Second,  Contract  teachers  shall  receive  board,  laundry,  a 
vacation  in  the  mission  sanitarium  and  $250  in  money,  payable 
in  bi-monthly  installments. 

Tlfird,  the  out-going  and  home-coming  tickets  of  Contract 
teachers  shall  be  furnished  by  the  Society.  Unless  otherwise 
specified  the  return  transit  shall  be  over  such  a  route  as  will 
complete  a  round-the-world  voyage. 

Fourth,  the  term  of  service  shall  be  three  years. 

Fifth,  Contract  teachers  are  not  entitled  to  furniture 
money,  home  salarj^  nor  to  benefit  from  the  Retirement  Fund. 

Sixth,  Coiitract  teachers  employed  by  the  Society  shall  not 
be  appointed  to  work  which  is  unauthorized  by  the  Society  and 
not  under  its  control.  During  their  term  of  service  they  shall  be 
subject  to  the  rules  and  requirements  governing  missionaries. 


11 


C.  THE  MISSIONARY  ACCEPTED  AND  APPOINTED 
I.  Relations: 

1.  To  the  Society. 

The  missionary  shall  enter  into  the  following  contract  by 
and  with  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society  through  the 
Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  Branch  emplojdng  her.  This 
contract  shall  be  signed  in  duplicate  for  file  by  the  missionary 
and  the  Corresponding  Secretary  for  the  Branch  employing  her. 

CONTRACT 

“I, - ,  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  - 

- Branch  of  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society 

of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  covenant  and  agree  on  the 
part  of  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society  to  pay  the 

traveling  expenses  of - ,  a  missionary  in  the 

employ  of  the - Branch,  from  her  home  to  her 

field  of  labor  and  her  salary  from  the  time  of  reaching  the  field 

at  the  rate  of  $ -  per  annum.  I  further  agree  to  pay  her 

return  passage  and  home  salary  as  provided  in  the  By-Laws  re¬ 
lating  to  those  matters.” 

“I, - ,  a  missionary,  agree  to  give  at  least  five 

years  of  continuous  service  as  a  single  woman  to  the  work  of  the 
W  Oman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society  in  any  field  to  which  I  may 
be  sent,  and,  failing  in  this,  to  refund  the  amount  of  outfit  and 
passage  money.  I  also  agree  to  conform  to  all  rules  and  regula¬ 
tions  of  said  Society  while  in  its  employ.” 

The  missionary  shall  consider  the  regulations  of  the  Society 
named  in  the  Constitution  and  By-Laws  as  binding  as  the  terms 
of  the  contract,  and  failure  to  conform  to  them  on  the  part  of 
the  missionary  shall  release  the  Society  from  all  financial  liability. 
By-Law  IX,  A,  2,  3. 

2.  To  the  General  Executive  Committee  and  the  Branch. 

On  acceptance  by  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society 
each  missionary  shall  be  under  the  control  of  the  General  Execu¬ 
tive  Committee,  directly  amenable  to  the  Corresponding  Secre¬ 
tary  of  the  Branch  employing  her.  By-Law  IX,  A,  1. 


12 


3.  To  the  Foreign  Department. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  this  department  to  (a)  consider  esti¬ 
mates  and  make  appiopriations  for  the  foreign  work;  (b)  conduct 
the  official  correspondence  with  the  missionaries  and  with  mis¬ 
sions  assigned  for  such  official  correspondence;  (c)  give  careful 
consideration  to  the  requests  of  missionaries.  By-Law  III, 
a,  b,  c. 

The  regulations  of  the  Foreign  Department,  contained  in 
tliis  Manual,  are  similar  in  force  to  the  By-Laws  and  should  be 
carefully  observed.  The  purpose  of  the  Manual  is  to  aid  th^ 
missionary  in  conforming  to  the  methods  of  the  Society,  by 
presenting  them  in  a  form  for  ready  reference.  The  Manual 
should  therefore  be  kept  constantly  at  hand,  as  a  guide  in  pro¬ 
cedure  and  as  a  constant  assurance  of  the  sympathy,  support, 
and  co-operation  which  the  Society  extends  to  its  missionaries. 

4.  To  the  General  Office. 

The  General  Office  at  150  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York,  serves 
the  Society  at  home  and  abroad.  It  renders  assistance  to  out¬ 
going  and  returning  missionaries,  and  in  various  ways  aids  the 
workers  on  the  foreign  field.  It  is  important  that  missionaries 
keep  in  close  touch  with  the  General  Office  through  its  Secretary. 

11.  The  Missionary  in  Preparation  and  Transit. 

1.  In  Waiting. 

(a)  Procedure. 

An  accepted  candidate  who  is  not  sent  out  within  tlie  y  ear, 
shall  be  presented  for  reconsideration  at  the  ensuing  session  of 
the  General  Executive  Committee  by  the  Corresponding  Secre¬ 
tary  in  whose  Branch  she  resides.  By-Law  VIII,  d. 

(b)  Special  Training. 

The  teclmical  training  offered  by  the  Bible  and  missionary 
training  schools  is  of  great  value  and  candidates  are  advised  to 
avail  themselves  of  such  training  wherever  possible.  Sugges¬ 
tions  of  courses  of  reading,  recommended  by  the  Foreign  Depart¬ 
ment,  may’  be  obtained  through  the  General  Office. 

13 


2.  Conference  with  the  General  Executive  Committee. 

An  important  part  of  the  missionary’s  preparation  is  her 
attendance  at  the  Conference  of  Missionaries,  held  in  connection 
with  the  annual  meeting  of  the  General  Executive  Committee 
in  October.  The  program  of  this  Conference  provides  instruc¬ 
tion  of  value  for  her  future  work.  It  brings  her  into  acquaint¬ 
ance  with  the  officers  of  the  Societj^  and  with  other  missionaries, 
which  will  prove  of  benefit  in  their  future  relations.  In  these 
hours  of  council  and  of  prayer  she  realizes  that  henceforth  she  is 
part  of  a  blessed  fellowship  in  “all  the  world”  and  in  the  common 
bond  of  service  finds  a  joy  and  strength  for  the  days  to  come. 

3.  Credentials. 

At  the  Commission  Service,  held  at  the  annual  meeting  of 
the  General  Executive  Committee,  a  certificate  of  commission  is 
presented  to  each  new  missionary. 

The  missionary  should  also  secure  from  the  Branch  Corre¬ 
sponding  Secretary  or  the  Secretary  of  the  General  Office  two 
copies  of  the  credential  card  issued  by  the  Society.  She  should 
keep  these  cards  in  readiness  for  immediate  use.  If  the  rela- 
tionsliip  is  severed,  all  these  credentials  should  be  returned  to 
the  Society. 

4.  Passports. 

Every  missionary  should  provide  herself  with  a  government 
passport  before  leaving  America.  Passports  are  especially 
essential  for  missionaries  to  China.  Application  blanks  may  be 
obtained  from  any  stationer  who  sells  legal  blanks,  or  at  the 
General  Office. 

5.  Outfit  and  Furniture. 

The  Society  shall  provide  each  missionary,  when  beginning 
service,  with  not  less  than  $100  for  personal  outfit,  and  also,  if 
necessary,  $100  for  furniture,  which  shall  be  the  property  of  the 
Society.  Furniture  and  medical  outfit  provided  by  the  Society 
shall  be  the  propertv  of  the  Societv  and  subject  to  its  disposition. 
By-Law  IX,  e. 


14 


In  many  stations  the  homes  are  completely  furnished  and  the 
missionary  requires  no  fund  for  furniture. 

Suggestions  in  regard  to  clothing,  furniture  and  other  items 
of  outfit  are  on  file  in  the  General  Office  and  may  be  obtained 
from  its  Secretary.  A  part  of  the  outfit  fund  should  be  reserved 
for  the  purchase  of  articles  which  may  be  bought  to  better  ad¬ 
vantage  on  the  foreign  field.  An  inventory  of  the  furniture 
purchased  by  the  missionary  should  be  filed  with  the  Correspond¬ 
ing  Secretary  of  the  Branch  to  which  the  missionary  is  related 
and  with  the  Treasurer  of  the  Foreign  Conference  to  which  she 
belongs. 

6.  Transportation. 

Travel  arrangements  for  an  outgoing  missionary  may  be 
made  by  the  Branch  which  employs  her  or  by  the  Secretary  of 
the  General  Office.  It  is  especially  desirable  that  combinations 
should  be  planned,  so  that  missionaries  should  journey  in  groups. 
Certain  fixed  routes  of  travel,  both  to  and  from  the  field,  are 
approved  by  the  Society.  Other  routes  may  be  substituted,  if 
the  expense  is  not  increased  or  if  the  additional  cost  is  met  by 
the  missionary.  Delays  in  transit  wliich  are  not  caused  by  the 
necessities  of  the  journey  are  at  the  expense  of  the  missionary. 
All  legitimate  items  of  expense  should  be  entered  on  the  expense 
blank  provided  by  the  Society  and  sent  to  the  Corresponding 
Secretary  of  the  Branch  concerned,  for  her  approval. 

Full  information  as  to  routes,  rates,  allowances  for  meals  on 
overland  travel  and  similar  items,  may  be  obtained  at  the  General 
Office. 

7.  Baggage. 

It  is  expected  that  the  missionary’s  personal  baggage  will  not 
exceed  350  pounds.  Charges  for  an  amount  in  excess  of  this  are 
considered  a  personal  expense.  A  moderate  amount  of  freight 
may  be  sent  from  sailing  ports  to  a  foreign  land  at  the  Society’s 
expense.  The  General  Office  supplies  detailed  information  about 
the  amount  of  baggage  allowed  on  railroad  and  steamship  tickets 
and  the  marking  and  forwarding  of  freight. 


15 


8.  Hotels  and  Boarding  Houses, 

Tlie  General  Office  provides  a  list  of  hotels  and  boarding 
houses  located  at  the  principal  ports  touched  by  missionaries  in 
transit.  These  addresses  may  also  be  obtained  from  the  General 
Office  Correspondent  on  each  mission  field. 

9.  Health  Precautions. 

The  missionary  is  reminded  of  the  importance  of  attending  to 
dentistry,  vaccination  and  similar  matters  before  sailing  to  the 
foreign  field. 

10.  Personal  Records. 

The  missionary  should  fill  out  in  duplicate  the  blank  pro¬ 
vided  for  Personal  Records  and  file  it  at  the  General  Office  and 
in  her  home  on  the  foreign  field.  This  record  is  of  special  im¬ 
portance.  One  of  its  items  is  the  address  of  at  least  one  relative 
or  friend  of  the  missionary  residing  in  the  United  States,  with 
whom  the  Society  may  communicate  in  case  of  her  death  or  in 
any  emergency.  The  missionary  should  promptly  correct  the 
record,  if  the  address  is  changed. 

11.  WiUs. 

It  is  urgently  requested  that  every  missionary  of  the  Society 
should  make  her  will  before  leaving  America,  even  if  she  owns 
only  personal  effects.  In  many  countries  the  legal  requirements 
are  such  that  serious  difficulties  arise  in  case  of  death,  where 
there  is  no  will.  Each  missionary  is  advised  to  keep  on  file  a 
statement  of  the  place  where  her  will  is  deposited  and  of  any 
directions  which  she  desires  to  have  followed,  in  case  of  accident 
or  death.  While  the  missionary  may  reasonably  expect  to  meet 
no  serious  emergency  on  the  field,  yet  in  the  uncertainties  of  life 
she  should  take  these  precautions  to  prevent  possible  difficulty 
and  embarrassment  to  her  co-workers. 

III.  The  Missionary  on  the  Field. 

1.  Designation. 

The  final  assignment  of  the  missionary  to  her  place  of  service 
is  made  by  the  authorities  on  the  field,  in  accordance  with  the 
Constitution,  Article  IX. 


16 


All  missionaries  sent  out  by  this  Society  shall  labor  under  the 
direction  of  the  particular  Conference  or  JNIission  of  the  Church 
in  which  they  may  be  severally  employed.  They  shall  be  annu¬ 
ally  appointed  by  the  President  of  the  Conference  or  Mission, 
and  shall  be  subject  to  the  same  rules  of  removal  that  govern 
other  missionaries. 

2.  Home. 

Furnished  homes  are  provided  by  the  Society  for  its  mission¬ 
aries.  The  workers  in  each  station  form  a  family  and  share  the 
living  expenses,  which  they  pay  out  of  their  salaries.  The 
furniture  bought  for  such  a  home  by  the  Society  is  the  property 
of  the  Society  and  may  not  be  removed  without  the  consent  of  the 
Field  Reference  Committee  and  of  the  Branch  Corresponding 
Secretary  who  is  the  Official  Correspondent  of  that  Conference. 

3.  Salary. 

The  salaries  of  missionaries  shall  be  $600  in  Africa,  Bulgaria, 
Foochow,  King  Hua,  India,  and  Malaysia;  $650  in  North,  Cen¬ 
tral,  and  West  China;  $700  in  Italy,  Japan,  and  Korea;  $750  in 
the  Philippine  Islands,  Mexico,  and  South  America,  The  salary 
begins  when  the  missionary  arrives  on  the  field. 

4.  Language  Study. 

The  missionary’s  first  duty  after  arrival  on  the  field  is  to 
acquire  the  language  of  the  people  among  whom  she  is  to  labor. 
Two  years  of  study  under  a  competent  instructor  should  suffice 
to  secure  a  working  knowledge  of  the  language.  The  major 
part  of  the  first  year  should  be  kept  free  from  other  duties,  for 
language  lessons.  This  study  should  continue  until  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  the  language  is  obtained.  Evidence  that  the 
missionary  is  incapable  of  acquiring  the  language  may  be  con¬ 
sidered  a  reason  for  her  recall.  If  the  Conference  to  which  the 
missionary  belongs  prescribes  a  course  of  study,  she  is  required 
to  pursue  it  and  pass  the  examination. 

5.  Registry  at  Consulate. 

Missionaries  should  register  at  the  consulate  of  their  respec¬ 
tive  governments  as  soon  as  they  arrive  on  the  foreign  field. 


17 


This  registry  may  prevent  difficult  and  embarrassing  situations, 

6.  Health. 

Without  good  health  it  is  impossible  for  the  missionary  to 
accomplish  the  object  for  which  she  has  entered  the  foreign  service 
and  to  discharge  her  obligation  to  the  Society.  The  conscien¬ 
tious  worker  will  faithfully  exercise  that  care  of  the  body  which 
will  maintain  physical  efficiency,  through  careful  observance  of 
the  laws  of  health.  She  will  give  earnest  heed  to  the  advice  of 
missionaries  who  are  experienced  in  an  environment  new  to  her. 
The  temptation  to  undertake  too  much  comes  to  every  zealous 
worker;  to  yield  to  it  may  involve  the  sacrifice  of  years  of  useful 
service;  especial  precaution  is  needed  during  the  slow  process  of 
acclimatization. 

7.  Cables  and  Cable  Addresses. 

The  cable  address  of  the  Society  in  the  United  States  is 
“Formis,  New  York.”  Messages  thus  addressed  are  delivered 
at  the  General  Office  and  may  be  transmitted  from  it  to  the  offi¬ 
cers  of  the  Society  or  friends  of  the  missionary,  if  desired.  Each 
foreign  Conference  has  a  registered  cable  address,  wliich  may  be 
obtained  at  the  General  Office. 

Cabling  is  expensive  and  should  be  used  only  in  an  emergency; 
to  reduce  the  cost,  a  cable  code  should  be  employed.  The 
Treasurers  of  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  on  the  field  have 
The  Foreign  Missions  Cable  Code  Book  and  at  the  request  of  the 
missionaries  wdl  transmit  their  messages  in  code  to  the  United 
States  and  interpret  those  received  by  them.  The  China  Inland 
Mission  Code  Book  may  also  be  used  in  communicating  with  the 
General  Office.  In  reckoning  the  number  of  words  in  a  cable 
message,  the  address  and  signature  must  be  included  as  a  part 
of  the  cost. 

IV.  The  Missionary  at  Work. 

1.  Use  of  Time. 

The  missionary  shall  devote  her  entire  time  and  attention  to 
her  work.  By-Law  IX,  A,  4. 


18 


2.  Relations. 

(a)  In  the  Home. 

It  is  the  purpose  of  the  Society  to  place  at  least  two  mission¬ 
aries  in  each  station.  In  some  missions  several  reside  together. 
In  the  close  touch  of  the  home  life  there  are  constant  opportuni¬ 
ties  for  the  exercise  of  that  friendliness  and  sympathy  which  even 
the  strongest  need,  and  for  the  spirit  of  gentleness  and  patient 
forbearance  which  belongs  to  the  servant  of  Christ.  The  mis¬ 
sionary  in  thus  promoting  the  comfort  and  harmony  of  the 
household  is  strengthening  the  hands  of  her  fellow-laborers  for 
their  arduous  tasks.  She  should  carefully  guard  herself  from 
unduly  intimate  and  absorbing  friendships  which  militate  against 
the  happiness  of  the  family  and  her  own  usefulness. 

No  missionai-y  in  the  employ  of  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Mis¬ 
sionary  Society  shall  adopt  any  child  as  her  own.  By-Law  IX, 
A,  6. 

(b)  In  tl  e  Work. 

In  the  prosecution  of  work  for  which  a  missionary  is  individu¬ 
ally  responsible,  she  is  expected  to  exercise  such  liberty  of  action 
as  is  necessary  to  express  her  personal  purpose  and  devotion. 
She  should,  however,  bear  in  mind  that  no  department  of  the 
work  is  independent  of  another;  that  the  greatest  success  of  the 
whole  work  demands  deference  to  properly  constituted  authority, 
and  cordial  and  sympathetic  co-operation  with  her  fellow-workers. 

(c)  To  the  Authorities  on  the  Field. 

See  sections  2  and  3,  page  5. 

Bishops’  Ruling  S98.  May,  1881.  In  case  of  differences 
between  any  of  the  appointees  of  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Mission¬ 
ary  Society  and  the  Mission  (including  the  Superintendent) 
which  cannot  be  adjusted  betw'een  the  parties  without  unreason¬ 
able  delay,  we  recommend  that  such  differences,  with  the  papers 
and  facts  in  the  case,  be  referred  by  the  parties  to  the  Bishop  in 
charge  for  final  decision. 

3.  Field  Organization. 

(a)  The  Annual  or  Mission  Conference  or  Mission. 

The  work  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  on  the  foreign 
field  is  organized  into  Annual  Conferences,  like  the  Conferences 


19 


in  the  United  States,  —  or  Mission  Coi’ferences,  v/hich  are 
similar  to  Annual  Conferences,  but  without  power  to  vote  on 
constitutional  questions  or  elect  delegates  to  the  General  Con¬ 
ference,  —  or  Missions  which  in  annual  meeting  have  the  power 
of  District  Conferences. 

(6)  The  Woman’s  Conference. 

Working  in  co-operation  with  each  Conference  of  the  Metho¬ 
dist  Episcopal  Church  on  the  foreign  field,  there  shall  be,  wher¬ 
ever  practicable,  a  Woman’s  Conference,  made  up  of  the 
missionaries  of  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  wives 
of  nnssiona,rIes  of  the  Board  of  Foreign  IVIissions  in  charge  of 
work  for  the  Society,  and  such  other  women  workers  as  each 
Woman’s  Conference  shall  from  time  to  time  determine. 

This  Conference  shall  meet  annually  and  elect  a  President,  a 
Vice-President,  Secretary,  Official  Correspondent,  and  such  othei 
officers  as  shall  be  needed,  hear  reports,  appoint  committees,  and 
consult  concerning  the  work  in  charge  of  the  Woman’s  Foreign 
Missionary  Society  within  the  bounds  of  the  Conference. 

All  impoitant  recommendations  to  the  General  Executive 
Committee  or  the  Foreign  Department  shall  first  be  acted  upon 
by  the  Woman’s  Conference. 

This  Conference  may  delegate  any  of  its  functions  to  the  Field 
Reference  Committee  or  other  committees  except  the  matter  of 
recommendations  in  regard  to  the  return  of  missionaries  to  the 
field  after  furlough. 

This  Conference  annually  elects  by  ballot  a  Field  Reference 
Committee  and  a  Field  Property  Committee.  By-Law  X. 

It  is  essential  to  the  usefulness  of  the  missionary  in  the 
general  work  and  in  her  own  field  that  she  should  attend  the 
annual  meeting  of  this  Conference  (or  Mission). 

(c)  Foreign  Treasurers. 

There  shall  be  a  Foreign  Treasurer  for  the  Woman’s  Foreign 
Missionary  Society  in  each  Annual  or  Mission  Conference,  who 
shall  be  appointed  by  the  Foreign  Department  of  the  Woman’s 
Foreign  Missionary  Society. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  Foreign  Treasurer  to  (1)  forward 
receipts  immediately  upon  receiving  remittances  from  the  Branch 
Treasurer;  (2)  apply  the  funds  of  the  Society  only  for  the  pur- 

20 


poses  designated  by  the  General  Executive  Committee  (this  rule 
shall  be  interpreted  to  mean  that  no  expenditure  shall  exceed  the 
appropriation);  (3)  pay  ajjpropriations  for  buildings  and  for 
salaries  of  missionaries  on  the  basis  of  U.  S.  gold,  and  all  other 
appropriations  on  the  basis  of  the  local  currency  of  the  country; 

(4)  pay  money  for  buildings  on  order  of  the  Building  Committee 
in  such  amounts  and  at  such  time  as  required  by  the  contract; 

(5)  invest,  on  action  of  the  Field  Reference  Committee  of  the 
Woman’s  Conference,  all  money  sent  to  the  field  for  buildings 
and  land,  the  use  of  which  is  temporarily  delayed;  (6)  forward  to 
the  Branch  Corresponding  Secretary  on  January  1st  and  July 
1st  of  each  year  itemized  statements  of  balance  arising  from  un¬ 
used  appropriations,  exchange,  or  other  source,  and  hold  such 
funds  subject  to  the  order  of  the  Corresponding  Secretary  from 
whose  Branch  said  funds  accrue;  (7)  forward  estimates  approved 
by  the  Field  Reference  Committee  and  printed  according  to 
prescribed  form,  two  copies  to  each  of  the  General  Officers,  and 
three  copies  to  the  Corresponding  Secretary  of  each  Branch,  to 
insure  arrival  on  or  before  September  1st;  (8)  receive  building 
accounts  properly  audited,  and  hold  them  in  custody  for  the 
Society.  By-Law  X. 

By  action  of  the  Foreign  Department,  no  money  for  the 
purchase  of  land  or  buildings  may  be  borrowed  on  the  foreign 
field. 

(d)  Field  Reference  Committee. 

Each  Woman’s  Conference  shall  have  a  Field  Reference 
Committee,  consisting  of  not  less  than  five  nor  more  than  seven 
representative  members,  who  shall  be  elected  annually  by  ballot. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Field  Reference  Committee  to  (1) 
prepare  estimates  which  require  the  action  of  the  General  Execu¬ 
tive  Committee;  (2)  consider  the  furloughs  of  missionaries  and 
forward  recommendations  concerning  the  individual  cases  to  the 
same;  (3)  consider  all  matters  of  general  interest  arising  during 
the  interim  of  their  annual  meetings.  By-Law  XI. 

The  Official  Correspondent  and  the  Treasurer  shall  be  ex- 
officio  members  of  this  Committee. 

(e)  Field  Property  Committee. 

There  shall  be  a  Field  Property  Committee  in  each  Woman’s 


21 


Conference,  nominated  by  the  Reference  Committee  and  elected 
by  the  Conference.  The  Treasurer  shall  be  ex-offi,cio  member  of 
thiS  Committee.  Its  duties  shall  be  to 

(1)  Have  in  charge,  under  the  direction  of  the  Foreign 
Department  of  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  all 
matters  relative  to  the  purchase  and  sale  of  property,  erection 
and  insurance  of  buildings,  and  extensive  repairs  for  which 
appropriations  have  been  made.  After  a  building  has  been 
authorized  by  the  Foreign  Department,  the  Property  Committee 
shall  appoint  a  local  building  committee,  which  shall  have  author¬ 
ity  to  draw  up  plans,  make  the  contract,  subject  to  the  approval 
of  the  Property  Committee,  audit  bills,  and  direct  the  work. 

(2)  Secure  safe  legal  titles  to  all  real  estate  purchased  by  the 
Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society.  When  possible,  all  deeds 
shall  be  made  to  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  or  to  the  Board  of  Foreign 
Missions  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  trust  for  the 
Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church;  where  neither  of  these  is  possible  they  shall  be  made  in 
the  way  that  shall  be  approved  by  the  Field  Reference  Com¬ 
mittee  and  Finance  Committee  of  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions 
of  that  Conference. 

(3)  Have  all  deeds  recorded  in  accordauce  with  the  laws  of 
the  country,  and  preserve  all  deeds  and  other  legal  papers  not 
forwarded  to  America. 

(4)  Keep  a  record  of  all  real  estate  belonging  to  the  Woman’s 
Foreign  Missionary  Society. 

(5)  Furnish  the  Committee  on  Real  Estate  with  information 
as  required. 

(6)  Keep  on  file  all  documents  giving  power  of  attorney  for 
the  transfer  of  property  within  the  Conference.  By-Law  X. 

(/)  Official  Correspoudents. 

The  Foreign  Department  appoints  from  its  members  an 
Official  Correspondent  for  each  mission.  The  missionaries  are 
expected  to  furnish  the  Official  Correspondent  with  all  facts  as 
required.  By-Law  IX,  B,  1. 

Where  the  organization  of  a  Woman’s  Conference  or  Mission 
has  been  effected,  it  is  desired  that  there  be  appointed  a  Field 


22 


Official  Correspondent  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  convey  to  the 
Foreign  Department  through  the  Official  Correspondent  in 
America  information  regarding  all  matters  of  importance  and  all 
conference  official  actions. 

All  official  business  referred  to  her  from  America  by  the 
Official  Correspondent  for  her  Conference  shall  in  turn  be  pre¬ 
sented  by  her  to  the  Woman’s  Conference.  The  missionary  may, 
however,  make  a  personal  representation  of  any  matter  to  her 
own  Branch  Corresponding  Secretary  or  to  the  Official  Corre¬ 
spondent,  in  America,  of  the  field  in  which  she  resides. 

4.  Estimates  and  Appropriations. 

The  missionary  shall  (1)  incur  no  expense  wliich  has  not  been 
authorized  by  the  General  Executive  Committee,  (4)  present 
estimates  and  all  other  matter  requiring  the  action  of  the  General 
Executive  Committee  through  the  Field  Reference  Committee 
of  the  Conference  in  which  her  work  is  located,  (5)  include  in  her 
estimates  for  Bible-women  and  zenana  workers  all  expenses  of 
conveyances  and  teachers,  and  in  those  for  scholarships,  the  cost 
of  fuel,  lights,  medicines,  and  the  minor  expenses  necessary  in 
the  maintenance  of  the  school.  By-Law  IX,  C,  1,  4,  5. 

The  General  Executive  Committee  on  the  recommendation  of 
the  Foreign  Department,  makes  its  annual  appropriations  to 
the  extent  which  the  Society’s  funds  allow,  giving  preference  to 
the  items  which  are  considered  most  important. 

5.  Special  Gifts. 

The  missionary  shall  apply  to  private  sources  for  financial 
aid  only  by  authority  from  the  Foreign  Department  of  the 
General  Executive  Committee.  All  solicitations  for  funds  shall 
be  made  through  the  proper  official  authorities.  By-Law  IX, 
C,  2. 

6.  Accounts. 

The  missionary  shall  keep  an  itemized  account  of  receipts 
and  disbursements,  also  of  all  donations,  fees,  and  other  sums 
received  for  the  support  of  the  work,  and  credit  the  same  to  the 
Society  in  her  annual  financial  statement  to  the  Conference 
Treasurer.  By-Law  IX,  C,  3. 


23 


All  accounts  of  the  money  of  the  Society  and  all  its  funds 
should  be  kept  separately  from  personal  accounts  and  ftmds. 
When  a  missionary  is  treasurer  of  more  than  one  fund  of  the 
Society,  she  is  expected  to  carry  a  bank  account  and  special 
signature  for  each  fund.  All  accounts  should  be  audited. 

7.  Payment  of  Bills  in  the  United  States. 

If  the  missionary  desires  to  order  goods  in  the  United  States 
and  to  have  the  Society  pay  the  bill,  deducting  the  amount  from 
remittances,  she  should  not  only  direct  the  firm  which  sells  the 
goods  to  apply  to  the  Society  for  payment,  but  should  at  the 
same  time  notify  the  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  Branch  to 
which  she  is  related  and  the  Secretary  of  the  General  Office  in 
New  York  by  letter  or  by  forwarding  the  request  in  duplicate 
on  the  blank,  called  “Request  to  Certify  Bills.”  Both  time  and 
money  are  saved  by  paying  such  bills  in  this  country,  but  such 
payments  may  only  be  made,  by  the  direct  request  of  the 
missionary  to  the  official  who  is  to  make  the  payment. 

8.  Records. 

The  missionary  shall  keep  a  clear  record  of  all  Special  Work, 
including  Bible- women,  scholarships,  etc.,  in  her  charge  under 
the  Branches  supporting  them,  and  on  her  removal  or  furlough 
transfer  it  to  her  substitute  or  successor.  By-Law  IX,  B,  4. 

9.  Reports. 

The  missionary  shall  report  each  quarter  to  the  Corresponding 
Secretary  of  the  Branch  employing  her  and  to  the  Superintendent 
of  the  district  in  which  her  work  is  located;  furnish  the  Official 
Correspondent  with  all  facts  as  required;  send  annual  communi¬ 
cations  for  patrons  supporting  Special  Work.  By-Law  IX, 
B,  1,  2,  3. 

It  is  requested  that  missionaries  in  preparing  scholarship 
letters  duplicate  one  general  letter,  adding  not  less  than  six  lines 
of  personal  reference  to  the  individual  pupil,  and  when  change  of 
pupil  is  necessary  that  reason  for  change  be  briefly  given.  When 
possible  the  above  suggestions  may  be  applied  to  Bible-women 
letters. 


24 


10.  Vacations. 

The  missionary  should  not  fail  to  take  a  period  of  rest  every 
year,  at  such  time  as  the  climate  demands  and  the  ne<'ds  of  the 
work  permit.  \Vlien  the  condition  of  health  requires  an  unusual 
length  of  vacation,  the  missionary  should  consult  the  Field 
Reference  Committee. 

11.  The  Supreme  Aim. 

In  the  prosecution  of  the  evangelistic,  educational,  and  medi¬ 
cal  work  of  the  Society  there  is  abundant  opportunity  for  the 
highest  specialized  and  technical  skill.  In  the  absorbing  labors 
of  these  varied  departments  amid  the  routine  and  detail  of  the 
daily  life  the  evangelistic  purpose  must  never  grow  dim.  The 
supreme  aim  of  all  forms  of  missionary  service  is  to  bring  indi¬ 
vidual  souls  into  fellowship  with  God  the  Father  through  Jesus 
Christ,  our  Lord,  ■ —  that  His  Kingdom  may  come  and  His  will 
may  be  done  on  earth  as  it  is  in  heaven. 

V.  The  Missionary  on  Furlough. 

1.  Time  of  Furlough. 

Experience  has  proved  that  it  is  desirable  and  even  necessary 
for  the  highest  welfare  of  the  missionary  and  of  her  work  that  at 
occasional  periods  she  should  return  to  her  home  land  for  rest, 
and  for  physical,  mental,  and  spiritual  refreshment. 

The  furloughs  of  the  missionaries  are  arranged  by  the  Con¬ 
ference  or  Mission  to  which  they  belong,  on  the  recommendation 
of  the  Field  Reference  Committee  and  with  the  approval  of  the 
General  Executive  Committee.  The  furlouglis  are  assigned  in 
rotation,  so  far  as  the  health  of  the  missionaries  permits,  and  on 
the  basis  of  By-Law  IX,  A,  5.  The  missionary  shall  serve  for 
five  years  as  the  first  term  and  six  years  for  each  succeeding  term; 
and  present  a  physician’s  certificate  in  order  to  remain  longer  in 
the  field  than  the  specified  time. 

2.  Length  of  Furlough. 

Fifteen  months’  absence  from  the  field  shall  constitute  the 
regular  furlough  and  any  deviation  from  this  rule  shall  be  on  the 


25 


authority  of  the  Foreign  Department.  By-Law  IX,  D,  8. 

3.  Travel  and  Expense. 

Each  missionary  shall  receive  $350  for  traveling  expenses 
when  entering  on  furlough.  Any  balance  shall  be  applied  on 
home  salary. 

The  liability  of  the  Society  for  the  necessary  traveling  ex¬ 
penses  of  furlough  or  home  leave  shall  depend  upon  conformity 
to  the  regulations.  By-Law  IX,  D,  1  and  2. 

The  rules  as  to  routes  of  travel,  baggage  and  other  details  of 
the  journey  which  are  laid  down  for  outgoing  missionaries  apply 
also  to  those  who  return  from  the  field.  (Page  13.) 

iSIissionaries  are  reminded  of  the  importance  of  informing 
themselves  as  to  latest  government  regidations  of  custom  duties, 
before  transporting  articles  to  or  from  the  field. 

4.  Salary  on  Furlough. 

In  all  cases  where  the  relations  of  the  missionary  to  the  Society 
are  harmonious,  her  home  salary  the  first  year  shall  be  $450.  If 
her  health  requires  her  to  remain  longer  in  this  country,  the 
second  year’s  home  salary  shall  be  $350.  Home  salary,  except  as 
hereinafter  provided,  shall  begin  upon  date  of  leavdng  field,  and 
shall  continue  until  return  thereto,  provided  said  return  is  within 
two  yea^s.  In  case  return  is  delayed  beyond  the  two  years,  the 
question  of  a  further  continuation  of  home  salary  shall  be  referred 
to  the  Foreign  Department.  By-Law  IX,  F,  3. 

Each  missionary  whose  home  is  not  in  the  United  States 
shall  receive  full  salary  when  on  furlough,  in  which  case  no  fur¬ 
lough  expenses  will  be  paid  by  the  Society.  This  provision  shall 
apply  only  to  missionaries  in  satisfactory  relation  to  the  Society, 
and  for  the  term  of  furlough  authorized  by  the  General  Executive 
Committee  through  the  Branch  employing  her.  By-Law  IX, 
D,  3. 

If  a  missionary  returns  home  for  family  reasons  before  com¬ 
pleting  a  full  term  of  service,  the  question  of  her  home  salary 
shall  be  referred  to  the  Foreign  Department. 

5.  Attendance  at  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  General 
Executive  Committee. 


36 


The  missionary  on  furlough  shall  attend  the  first  session  of 
the  General  Executive  Committee  held  after  her  return  from  the 
foreign  field,  and  her  traveling  expenses  to  and  from  the  place  of 
meeting  shall  be  paid  from  the  same  fund  as  those  of  members 
of  that  body.  By-Law  IX,  D,  7. 

6.  Use  of  Furlough. 

The  missionary  on  furlough  is  still  a  missionary  of  the  Society 
and  therefore  under  its  care  and  guidance.  The  use  of  the  fur¬ 
lough  is  determined  by  the  Branch  which  employs  her.  The 
furlough  may  be  devoted  to  rest,  to  study,  or  to  the  information 
and  inspiration  of  the  churches  and  the  membership  of  the 
Society.  The  purpose  of  the  furlough  is  the  complete  reinvigora- 
tion  of  the  missionary  for  her  return  to  renewed  and  increased 
usefulness  on  the  foreign  field;  she  should  undertake  nothing, 
however  desirable,  which  interferes  with  this. 

It  is  important  that  on  her  arrival  at  home  she  should  have  a 
thorough  medical  examination,  the  result  of  which  shoidd  be 
considered  in  determining  the  use  of  her  furlough.  In  all  cases 
a  period  of  complete  rest  is  advisable  at  the  beginning  and  imme¬ 
diately  before  the  close  of  the  furlough. 

7.  Courses  of  Study. 

On  the  approval  of  the  Branch  which  employs  her,  the  mis¬ 
sionary  on  furlough  may  avail  herself  of  the  opportunities  for 
special  study  provided  by  the  Bible  and  missionary  training 
schools  and  other  educational  institutions.  It  should  be  possible 
to  set  apart,  at  least,  a  brief  term  for  fresh  study  of  the  supreme 
text-book,  the  Bible,  and  of  such  other  subjects  as  will  best 
promote  efficiency  on  the  field.  The  Foreign  Department  does 
not  approve  of  extended  courses  of  study  for  a  missionary  on 
furlough.  One  year  is  considered  sufficient  for  special  study. 
If  a  missionary  contemplates  taking  a  longer  course,  the  case  is 
referred  to  the  Foreign  Department. 

8.  Sanitariums. 

If  the  missionary  on  furlough  desires  the  rest  and  treatment  of 
a  sandarium,  she  should  consult  the  Secretary  of  the  General 
Office  for  information  in  regard  to  special  rates  and  other  details. 

27 


9.  Bringing  Foreign  Girls  to  the  United  States. 

The  missionary  shall  not  bring  foreign-born  girls  or  helpers 
to  this  country  except  upon  the  recommendation  of  the  Field 
Reference  Committee  of  the  Conference  in  which  they  reside, 
and  with  the  permission  of  the  Foreign  Department  of  the 
Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society.  By-Law  IX,  A,  6. 

10.  Special  Furloughs. 

In  case  of  emergency  demanding  immediate  return  home,  the 
missionary  shall  bring  a  certificate  of  disability  from  a  physic'an 
and  from  the  Superintendent  of  the  Mission. 

If  she  contemplates  returning  home  for  any  other  reason  than 
ill-health,  she  shall  secure  permission  of  the  General  Executive 
Committee  through  the  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  Branch 
employing  her  (upon  the  recommendation  of  the  Field  Reference 
Committee).  By-Law  IX,  D,  4,  5. 

11.  Return  to  the  Field  after  Furlough. 

The  Woman’s  Conference  shall  decide  at  the  annual  session 
before  the  depaiture  of  a  missionary  on  furlough  whether  her 
return  to  the  field  is  desired,  and  communicate  such  decision  to 
her  before  her  departure  from  the  field,  also  to  the  Corresponding 
Secretary  of  the  Branch  supporting  her  and  to  the  Official  Corre¬ 
spondent  in  America. 

The  missionary  shall  accompany  her  application  for  return 
to  the  field  after  home  leave  with  a  new  medical  certificate.  The 
recommendation  of  the  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  Branch 
employing  her  and  a  majority  vote  of  the  Foreign  Department 
shall  be  authority  for  her  return.  By-Law  IX,  D,  6. 


VI.  Classification  of  Missionaries. 

For  purposes  of  administration  missionaries  shall  be  classified 
as  follows: 

Active.  Discontinued. 

Furloughed.  Withdrawn. 

Detained.  Married. 

Retired.  Deceased. 


28 


Active  missionaries,  as  the  name  implies,  are  those  engaged 
in  the  specific  work  assigned  them  on  the  field. 

Furloughed  missionaries  are  those  that  have  received  per¬ 
mission  from  the  Society  for  temporary  absence  from  the  mission 
field. 

Detained  missionaries  are  missionaries,  who  for  reasons  satis¬ 
factory  to  their  Branches,  have  been  detained  home  longer  than 
two  years  but  still  retain  legal  and  working  relations  to  their 
Branches. 

Retired  missionaries  are  those  whose  services  have  been 
deemed  impracticable  by  reason  of  family  conditions,  impaired 
health,  or  advancing  years.  The  Foreign  Department,  by  a 
two-thirds’  vote  of  its  members,  retires  such  missionaries  and 
fixes  the  date  at  which  home  salaries  shall  cease.  Retired 
missionaries  are  eligible  to  the  benefits  of  the  Retirement  Fund. 
They  may  be  restored  to  the  Active  list  by  methods  pursued  in 
original  candidacy. 

Discontinued  missionaries  are  missionaries,  who,  for  good  and 
sufficient  reasons,  have  had  their  relations  to  the  Society  severed 
by  a  three-fourths’  vote  of  the  Foreign  Department.  A  mission¬ 
ary  whose  relations  are  thus  discontinued  shall  have  no  further 
claim  upon  the  Society. 

If  a  missionary  on  the  field  be  deemed  unfit  for  missionary 
labor,  she  shall  receive  three  months’  notice  by  the  Foreign 
Department,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  the  General  Execu¬ 
tive  Committee  may  cancel  its  obligation  to  the  missionary. 
Return  passage  will  not  be  paid  after  the  expiration  of  three 
months. 

Withdrawn  missionaries  are  those  wdio  for  reasons  of  their 
own  have  desired  and  been  accorded  the  privilege  of  withdrawing 
from  the  Society,  thus  severing  all  relation  to,  and  renouncing  all 
claim  upon  it. 

Married  missionaries  are  those  who  have  entered  into  the 
married  relation  while  in  the  employment  of  the  Society,  thus 
severing  their  relation  to  and  annulling  their  claim  upon  the 
Society. 


29 


CONTENTS 


Foreword.  The  President  of  the  Society 

A.  The  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church 

I.  Record  of  the  Beginnings 

1.  The  Pioneers  2.  The  Society 

.  II.  The  Field 

III.  Relation  of  the  Society  to  the  Church  and  the  Board  of 

Foreign  Missions 

IV.  The  Constitution  and  By-Laws  of  the  Society 


B.  The  Missionary  Candidate 


I.  Qualifications 
II.  Requirements 
III.  Application 


IV.  Missionaries  from  OtkerBoards 
and  from  the  Foreign  Field 

V.  Self-Supporting  Missionaries 

VI.  Contract  Teachers 


C.  The  Missionary  Accepted  and  Appointed 


I.  Relations: 

1.  To  the  Society  3.  To  the  Foreign  Department 

2.  To  the  General  Executive  -1.  To  the  General  Office 
Committee  and  the  Branch 


II.  The  Missionary  in  Preparation  and  Transit 

1.  In  Waiting 

(a)  Procedure  (6)  Special  Training 

2.  Conference  with  the  General  7.  Baggage 


Executive  Committee 

3.  Credentials 

4.  Passports 

5.  Outfit  and  Furniture 

6.  Transportation 

III.  The  Missionary  on  the  Field 

1.  Designation 

2.  Home 

3.  Salary 

4.  Language  Study 


8.  Hotels  and  Boarding  Houses 

9.  Health  Precautions 

10.  Personal  Records 

11.  Wills 


5.  Registry  at  Consulate 

6.  Health 

7.  Cables  and  Cable  Addres.ses 


30 


IV.  The  Missionary  at  Work 

1.  Use  of  Time 

2.  Relations: 

(a)  In  the  Home 
(6)  In  the  Work 

(c)  To  the  Authorities  on 
the  Field 

3.  Field  Organization: 

(o)  The  Annual  or  Mission 
Conference  or  Mission 

(b)  TheWoman’s  Conference 

(c)  Foreign  Treasurers 

(d)  The  Field  Reference 
Committee 

V.  The  Missionary  on  Furlough 

1.  Time  of  Furlough 

2.  Length  of  Furlough 

3.  Travel  and  Expense 

4.  Salary  on  Furlough 

5.  Attendance  at  the  Annual 
Meeting  of  the  General 
Executive  Committee 

VI.  Classification  of  Missionaries 


(e)  h'ield  Property 
Committee 

if)  Official  Correspondents 

4.  Estimates  and  Appropria¬ 
tions 

5.  Special  Gifts 

6.  Accoimts 

7.  Payment  of  Bills  in  the 
United  States 

8.  Records 

9.  Reports 

10.  Vacations 

11.  The  Supreme  Aim 


6.  Use  of  Furlough 

7.  Courses  of  Study 

8.  Sanitariums 

9.  Bringing  Foreign  Girls  to  the 
United  States 

10.  Special  Furloughs 

11.  Return  to  the  Field  after 
Furlough 


31 


PUBLICATION  OFFICE 

Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church 

boston,  MASSACHUSETTS 

1913 


